September saw 54,615 passengers fly in and out of the Rogue Valley, short of 2012's total of 56,077.

Alaska Air Group unit Horizon Air and Delta Connection posted nearly 6 percent year-over-year gains during the month, while United was up a fraction. Allegiant tumbled by more than 53 percent, however, partially because it was flying to fewer destinations than a year ago.

The 188,845 passengers between July 1 through Sept. 30 last year is a mark airport Director Bern Case figures will stand for a while — overshadowing even very good months. The 179,674 passenger-count during the past three months was 4.9 percent off the 2012 total.

"That 2012 third quarter was the greatest we've ever had," Case said. "Comparing this September to last year is no big deal, I'm not feeling bad about it."

For much of the year, Case harbored hopes of eclipsing the all-time annual mark of 647,471 passengers set in 2008. But that seems unlikely now.